Can crusher

ABSTRACT

A device for crushing metal cans and other objects comprises a rectangular base and two pairs of pivotal lever arms. The lever arms of each pair rotate toward each other about parallel axes located along opposite sides of the base. In operation, a can is placed on its side in the base, the lever arms of one pair are brought together to flatten a zone across the cylindrical wall of the can, and the lever arms of the other pair are then rotated against the ends of the can to complete the crushing operation.

United States Patent 11 1 Maren [4 1 Oct. 23, 1973 1 CAN CRUSHER [76]Inventor: Eugene A. Maron, 2791 Bainbridge Ave., Bronx, N.Y. 10458 [22]Filed: Aug. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.2 264,311

[52] 11.8. C1. 100/232, 100/233, ,l00/DIG. 2, 72/394 [51] lint. Cl A21d2/00 {58] Field of Search 72/380, 381, 384,

72/394, 403; 113/120 BB; lOO/DIG. 2, 232, 233

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1949 Nadolny et al. 100233 7 1952 Voigt et al. 100 010. 2 5 1953 Danielson IOU/DIG. 2

Wilson et a1 100/D1G. 2 Morrow 100/DIG. 2

Primary Examiner-Lowell A. Larson AttorneyGranville M. Brumbaugh et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A device for crushing metal cans and other objectscomprises a rectangular base and two pairs of pivotal lever arms. Thelever arms of each pair rotate toward each other about parallel axeslocated along opposite sides of the base. In operation, a can is placedon its side in the base, the lever arms of one pair are brought togetherto flatten a zone across the cylindrical wall of the can, and the leverarms of the other pair are then rotated against the ends of the can tocomplete the crushing operation.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures sum 30F 3 3.766.849

PATENTED BC! 23 I975 CAN causuaa HISTORY OF THE INVENTION In recentyears the public has become increasingly concerned with the preservationof natural resources and the problem of environmental pollution. Onearea of particular interest is the disposal of consumer waste productssince many presently used disposal methods contribute to pollution. Asolution that has been proposed is the concept of recycling wastematerials, one facet of which is the recovery of the metal from cansused to package food products, particularly beverages. Can manufacturershave made an effort to recover this metal by setting up reclamationcenters and paying a refund or redemption fee for cans, based on weight.Profitable operation of the reclamation centers, however, necessitateslimiting the refund on returned cans to a relatively small amount,generally in the neighborhood of only a few cents per pound. Thus, inorder to make the trip to a reclamation center worthwhile, aconsiderable number of cans have to be collected by the averageconsumer. In their original shape, empty cans take up considerablespace,which presents a problem in storing cans and in transporting them to thereclamation center. If the cans could be easily crushed or otherwisecompressed, it would eliminate their excessive bulk and-make it moreconvenient for the consumer to save and redeem the cans.

Previously developed can crushers generally rely on a unidirectionalcrushing system. The most-common basic design is a flat crushing surfacewith a single unidirectionally acting lever arm. On type of crusherusing this design operates by applying force along the length of thecylindrical wall of the can in a direction generally parallel to theplanes of the ends of the can. In order to crush the can, the lever armhas to overcome both the resistance to lateral force of the cylindricalwall and the directional stiffening effect of the ends of the can. Toavoid the considerable force required with a simple lever system,intricate linkages have been devised to increase the mechanicaladvantage of this crusher. Another alternative is to combine a cancrusherwith an end cutter, wherein the ends of the can are firstforcibly cut from the cylindrical body and the body is then crushedusing considerably less'force than would have been required otherwise. I

In a second type of can crusher, the can is crushed from end to endalong the lenght of the cylindrical wall. Basically, in this type ofcrusher, the lever arm, rather than immediately engaging the entire wallof the can as it is brought downward, begins by engaging one end of thecan and then progressively crushes the can along the length of itscylindrical wall. The advantage of this type of crusher is that itallows the user to concentrate all of his force to one end of the canrather than having to overcome the resistance of both the cylindricalwall and the ends in one action. A modification of this crusher utilizesa lever arm with a V-shape extension which crumples one edge of the endof the can and weakens its resistance, allowing the lever to more easilycontinue the crushing process. 1 t

In a third type of crusher, the rigidity of the ends is avoided bycrushing the can against the lengthwise rigidity of the cylindricalwall. This longitudinal resistance is greater than'the lateralresistance of the wall and modifications have beendeveloped to avoid itsfull effect. In one such modification, crushing pressure is 2 appliedfirst along one portion of the edge of the end of the can, therebycrushing one lengthwise zone of the cylindrical wall, and thenprogressively across the end of the can. in a second modification ofthis type of crusher a rectangular shaped frame is hinged at each cornerso as to collapse while maintaining a parallelogram configuration. Thus,crushing force is applied simultaneously at diagonally opposite portionsof the edges of the ends of the can.

Although each of these crushers has some advantages over the others,they all generally require either a con- .siderable amount of force,when constructed with a' simple lever, or an intricate and expensivelever linkage to increase the mechanical advantage of the lever.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a unique device forcrushing objects, such as individual metal cans or groups of cans, whichhas no complicated, expensive lever linkages and requires onlyrelatively small operating forces because it crushes in twosequentialmotions. The device comprises a base for supporting the objector objects to be crushed, having a major and a minor axis.At leastonemernber of the base defines a supporting plane against which theobject is crushed.

At least one first lever is mounted on the base generally adjacent tothe center of the major axis of the base. The lever moves pivotallyabout an axis spaced laterally from and oriented generally parallel tothe major axis,

and located above and generally parallel to the supporting plane of thebaseQThere is an elongated handle on the lever and aportion of the leveris located and formed for engagement with a first portion of an objectsupported on the base. In addition, at least one second lever is mountedo the base generally adjacent the center of the minor axis of the base.This lever moves pivotally about an axis spaced laterally from andoriented generally parallel to the minor axis. As with the first lever,the pivotal axis is located aboveand oriented generally parallel to thesupporting plane of the base. The lever has an elongated handle and aportion located and formed for engagement with a second portionof theobject sup- I ported on the base.

In an exemplary'embodimenfl the base and le ver arms are formed anddimensioned to support and crush a cylindrical can. The pivotal axes ofthe first. and second levers are oriented generally perpendicular toeach other and there are two first and two second lever arms. The leverarms of each'pair pivot about laterally spaced and parallel axes, oneaxis located. on each side of the major and minor axes of the base. Atleast one of. the

second lever arms may be mounted on the base for adjustment of itspivotal axis along a path generally paral-j lel to the pivotal axes ofthe first lever arms.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide for mounting thedevice on a heavy stationary base, for example, to secure it to a heavywork table or 'to the floor, and to provide only one lever actingin'each'of two mutuallycrossing axes. A rigid mounting of such a form ofthe device enables the forces exerted on the single acting levers to bereacted to by such .rigid mounting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a better understanding of theinvention, reference may be made to the following description of anexemplary embodiment, taken in conjunction with the figures of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a can crusher constructed in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a can crusher taken along view line 2-2 ofFIG. 1, showing the first lever arms in an open position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a can crusher taken laterally through thebase, showing the first lever arms in a closed position; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a crusher taken longitudinally through thebase, partly broken away to show the locking mechanism of a movablesecond lever arm.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT A crusher, according to one embodiment ofthe invention shown in the drawings comprises a base, generallydesignated by the reference numeral 10, for supporting a can 12, orother object or objects to be crushed. In the embodiment, the base isrectangular in plan and includes two end members 14, which are laterallyspaced from each other. As best seen from FIGS. 2 and 4, the end members14 are generally U- shaped and are oriented parallel to each other. Thelower portions of the facing sides of the end members 14 have aplurality of laterally spaced-apart openings which extend only partiallythrough the thickness of each end member 14. Each hole receives one endof a longitudinally extended support member 16, the plurality of supportmembers 16 thus received defining a supporting plane against which thecan 12 or other object may be crushed. This plane should be ofsufficient width to support a can 12both prior to and'after crushing(when the can 12 will have an expanded lateral dimension as shown inFIG. 3). To assist in maintaining the can 12 in a stationary positionwhile it is subjected to a crushing force, the support members 16 may bearranged relative to each other toform a depression or hollow in thesupporting plane, which will closely fit the cylindrical wall of the can12. This may be accomplished by verticallydisplacing a center supportmember 16 to a plane below that of the immediately adjacent supportmembers 16, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The base 10 further includes a first and second pair of longitudinallyextending mounting members 18, the first pair located vertically abovethe second. One end of each mounting member 18 is received in anappropriate opening in one of the two end members 14. The openings forthe first pair of mounting members 18 are located adjacent to the tip ofeach leg 19 of the end members 14, while the openings for the secondpair of members 18 are located near the base of each leg 19.

The mounting members 18 may be permanently se- I cured to the endmembers 14 or, as shown in FIG. 4, they may be removable. If themounting members 18 are removable, the openings in the end members 14pass entirely through the thickness of the members and members 14 toreceive the flanges 20 and nuts 22, as shown in FIG. 4.

Two pairs of crushing lever arms, generally designated 24, are mountedon the base 10 for pivotal movement about appropriate axes. As shown inFIG. 3, each lever arm 24 comprises an elongated handle portion 26 thatreceives a shaped handle 28 and an opening 29 adjacent one end forpivotal mounting on the base 10. At its pivot end, each arm 24 has anenlargement, generally designated 30, laterally extended and dimensionedto engage and flatten a portion of a can 12, or other object to becrushed. This enlargement 30 may be of any convenient dimensions, suchas a sector of a circle of uniform thickness with the rest of the arm24, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. It is also within the scope of thisinvention to increase the thickness of the object-engaging enlargement30 such that it engages a greater area of the object to be'crushed. Inan enlargement 30 dimensioned as a sector of a circle, the pivot opening29 is located between the radial surfaces 32 and 34, adjacent theirintersection, and the handle portion 26 of the arm 24 extends from theintersection of one radial surface 32 and the arcuate surface 35. Therelative angular orientation of the handle portion 26 and enlargement 30may be selected as desired. As shown in FIG. 2, when enlargement 30 ispositioned with its radial surface 34 generally vertical to permit anobject to be placed on the base 10, the elongated handle portion 26 ofarm 24 may be resting on the surface supporting the base 10. Each leverarm 24 of the first pair of arms is mounted on the base 10 by receivingone of the first pair of mounting members 18 in its pivot opening 29. Torestrain movement of the arm 24 laterally along member 18, two annularstops or collars 36 encircle the mounting member 18, one on either sideof the lever arm 24. Collars 36 are themselves retained in a fixedlateral position by set screws 38. The enlargements 30 of this firstpair of arms 24 have their radial surfaces 32 and 34 approximately onehalf the width of the base 10, in length, permitting the enlargements 30to contact a can 12 lying on the base 10 at immediately adjacent pointson the upper side of the cylindrical wall of the can 12. As the leverarm handles 28 are raised, the leading radial surfaces 34 of theenlargements 30 rotate in opposite directions, pressing their respectivehalves of the cans 12 down and toward the sides of the base 10, as shownin FIG. 3. The can 12 is thus subjected to downward crushing pressureswhich will effectively flatten the cylindrical wall without leaving anuncrushed hump in the center. These pressures will also tend to maintainthe Y The second pair of lever arms 24 is mounted on the base 10 bymeans of two cross members 40, as shown in FIG. 1. Each arm 24 ismounted on a cross member 40 by receiving a portion of the member 40 inits pivot opening 29. Each cross member 40 extends across the width ofthe base 10 and receives one of the second pair of mounting members 18in each end. The cross members 40 are thus spaced laterally apartsubstantially across the length of the base 10 in a horizontal planevertically spaced between that of the support members 16 and the firstpair of mounting members l8. The lever arms 24 are mounted on crossmembers 40 in any convenient manner. As shown in FIG. 2, each crossmember 40 may consist of two sections, one having a nipple 42 which isreceived in a recess 44 in the other section. The nipple 42 issubstantially smaller in diameter than cross member 40 and, at the pointwhere it joins the first section of the member 40, the nipple 42 has anexpanded base 46 which serves as the mounting seat for the lever arm 24.This base 46 is received in pivot opening 29 of the arm 24 and the arm24 is held in place laterally by the ends of the two cross membersections. The sections are secured together by a tapered pin 48 passingthrough the first section nipple 42 and the second cross. membersectionrThis method of mounting the arm 24 on the cross member 40 isutilized because of the expanded ends 50 of the cross members 40 whichreceive the mounting members 18. It is within the scope of thisinvention, however, to eliminate these expanded ends and mount the arms24 on the members 40 in a manner similar to that used to mount the arms24 on the first pair of mounting members 18.

To permit adjustment of the second lever arms 24 for proper engagementwith objects of varying sizes, the cross members 40 are releasablyengageable with the mounting members 18 of the base 10. The openings 52in the expanded ends 50 of the cross members 40. which receive themembers 18 are formed as elongated circles or ovals, as shown in FIG. 3.Crescent shaped protrusions 54 in the lower interior surface of openings52 are engageable with corresponding grooves or serrations 56 inthemounting members 18, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the cross me'mbers'40 arefreely movable along the members 18 when the lever arms 24 are in arelaxed position. Asthe handle 28 of each lever arm 24 is moved upwardto permit its object-engaging enlargeinent. 30 to engage a can 12, theprotrusions 54 in the openings 52 are lifted into engagement with theserrations 56 in the members 18 and thereby secure the cross member 40ina fixed position during the crushing operation.

In operation, a'can 12 isplaced in the base 10, as

shown in FIG. 1, and the adjustable second lever arms 24 are moved toappropriate'positions to conveniently. engage theends of the cans 12.The first lever arms 24 are then brought into engagement .with the can12 and a portion of the can is flattened by raising handles '28 to avertical position, as shown in- 3,.This produces a flattened "zoneacross the cylindrical wall of the can 12 and also inclines the ends ofthe can 12 at an angle toward the center, as shown in FIG. 4. Lastly,the second lever arms 24 are brought into engagement with the ends ofthe can 12 and gradually force them down on top of the cylindrical wallof the can 12.

It will be understood that the above embodiment is merely exemplary andthose skilled in the art may make many variations and modificationswithout departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. Also suchmodifications and variations are intended to be within the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: I

1.A device for crushing objects, such as individual metal cans,comprising a base for supporting an object to be crushed, the basehaving a major and a minor axis and at least one member defininga-support plane of the base against which the object is to be crushed;at least one first levermounted on the base, generally adjacent thecenter of the major axis of the base, for pivotal movement about an axisspaced laterally from and oriented generally parallel to the major axisof the base and located above and oriented generally parallel to thesupport plane of the base, said lever having an elongated handle and aportion located and formed for engagement with a first portion of anobject supported on the base upon pivoting of the lever about its axistoward said object, thereby to flatten said first portion of the object;and at least one second lever mounted on the base, generally adjacentthe center of the minor axis of the base, for pivotal movement about anaxis spaced longitudinally from and oriented generally parallel to theminor axis of the base and located above and oriented generally parallelto the support plane of said base, said second lever having an elongatedhandle and a portion located and formed for engagement with a secondportion of an object supported on the base upon pivoting of the leverabout its axis toward said object, thereby to flatten said secondportion of the object.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the pivotal axes of the firstand second levers are oriented generally perpendicular relative to oneanother.

3. A device according to claim ll wherein there are two first lever armsmounted on the base for pivotal movement about two laterally spaced andparallel axes, one on either side of the major axis of the base, saidfirst lever arms being positioned and configured such that theobject-engaging portions thereof coact to flatten the said first portionof the object.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein there are two second lever armsmounted on the base for pivotal movement about two laterally spaced andparallel axes, one on either side of the minor axis of the base, saidsecond lever arms being positioned and configured such that theobject-engaging portions thereof act to flatten two second portions ofsaid object.

5. A device for crushing objects, such as individual the majciraxis ofthe base, spaced laterally from each other and said axis, one being oneither side thereof, and located above and generally parallel to thesupport plane of the. base, said first lever arms'each having anelongated handle and a portion located and formed for engagement with afirst portion of an object supported on the base upon pivoting of thelever arm about its axis toward said object, both first lever armsthereby coacting to flatten said first portion of the object; and two Isecond lever'arms mounted on the base, generally adjacent the centeroftheminor axis of the base, for pivotal movement about two axesoriented generally parallel to the minor axis of the base andperpendicular to the pivotal axes of the first lever arms, spacedlaterally from a each other and said minor axis, one being on eitherside second lever arms thereby acting to flatten said second 1 portionsof the object.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the base and the lever arms areformed and dimensioned to support and crush cylindrical cans and whereinthe two first lever arms are located in corresponding positionsgenerally adjacent opposite portions of the cylindrical walls of a cansupported on the base, the lever arms being positioned and configuredsuch that the objectengaging portions thereof coact to flatten a centerportion of the can.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the two second lever arms arelocated in corresponding positions generally adjacent the opposite endsof a can, supported on the base, each second lever arm being positionedand configured such that the object-engaging 10 justment of its pivotalaxis along a path generally parallel to the pivotal axes of the firstlever arms.

1. A device for crushing objects, such as individual metal cans,comprising a base for supporting an object to be crushed, the basehaving a major and a minor axis and at least one member defining asupport plane of the base against which the object is to be crushed; atleast one first lever mounted on the base, generally adjacent the centerof the major axis of the base, for pivotal movement about an axis spacedlaterally from and oriented generally parallel to the major axis of thebase and located above and oriented generally parallel to the supportplane of the base, said lever having an elongated handle and a portionlocated and formed for engagement with a first portion of an objectsupported on the base upon pivoting of the lever about its axis towardsaid object, thereby to flatten said first portion of the object; and atleast one second lever mounted on the base, generally adjacent thecenter of the minor axis of the base, for pivotal movement about an axisspaced longitudinally from and oriented generally parallel to the minoraxis of the base and located above and oriented generally parallel tothe support plane of said base, said second lever having an elongatedhandle and a portion located and formed for engagement with a secondportion of an object supported on the base upon pivoting of the leverabout its axis toward said object, thereby to flatten said secondportion of the object.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein thepivotal axes of the first and second levers are oriented generallyperpendicular relative to one another.
 3. A device according to claim 1wherein there are two first lever arms mounted on the base for pivotalmovement about two laterally spaced and parallel axes, one on eitherside of the major axis of the base, said first lever arms beingpositioned and configured such that the object-engaging portions thereofcoact to flatten the said first portion of the object.
 4. A deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein there are two second lever arms mounted onthe base for pivotal movement about two laterally spaced and parallelaxes, one on either side of the minor Axis of the base, said secondlever arms being positioned and configured such that the object-engagingportions thereof act to flatten two second portions of said object.
 5. Adevice for crushing objects, such as individual metal cans, comprising abase for supporting an object to be crushed, the base having a major anda minor axis and at least one member defining a support plane of thebase against which the object is to be crushed; two first lever armsmounted on the base, generally adjacent to the center of the major axisof the base, for pivotal movement about two axes oriented generallyparallel to the major axis of the base, spaced laterally from each otherand said axis, one being on either side thereof, and located above andgenerally parallel to the support plane of the base, said first leverarms each having an elongated handle and a portion located and formedfor engagement with a first portion of an object supported on the baseupon pivoting of the lever arm about its axis toward said object, bothfirst lever arms thereby coacting to flatten said first portion of theobject; and two second lever arms mounted on the base, generallyadjacent the center of the minor axis of the base, for pivotal movementabout two axes oriented generally parallel to the minor axis of the baseand perpendicular to the pivotal axes of the first lever arms, spacedlaterally from each other and said minor axis, one being on either sidethereof, and located above and generally parallel to the support planeof the base, said second lever arms each having an elongated handle anda portion located and formed for engagement with one of two secondportions of an object supported on the base upon pivoting of the leverarm about its axis toward said object, said second lever arms therebyacting to flatten said second portions of the object.
 6. A deviceaccording to claim 5 wherein the base and the lever arms are formed anddimensioned to support and crush cylindrical cans and wherein the twofirst lever arms are located in corresponding positions generallyadjacent opposite portions of the cylindrical walls of a can supportedon the base, the lever arms being positioned and configured such thatthe object-engaging portions thereof coact to flatten a center portionof the can.
 7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the two secondlever arms are located in corresponding positions generally adjacent theopposite ends of a can, supported on the base, each second lever armbeing positioned and configured such that the object-engaging portionthereof engages and flattens the end wall of the can immediatelyadjacent to the said second lever arm.
 8. A device according to claim 7wherein the support plane of the base is configured to support thecylindrical wall of a metal can by engagement with at least twospaced-apart lengthwise zones thereof.
 9. A device according to claim 7wherein at least one of the second lever arms is mounted on the base foradjustment of its pivotal axis along a path generally parallel to thepivotal axes of the first lever arms.